This presentation provides the history and importance of the wise men or magi that visited Jesus after His birth

1. The King Makers
A Look at the Magi

2. "And on His robe and on His thigh He
has a name written, “KING OF
KINGS, AND LORD OF
LORDS.”"
(Revelation 19:16)

3. Biblical Tour of the Magi

4. “Many absurd traditions and guesses respecting these
visitors to our Lord's cradle have found their way into
popular belief and into Christian art. They were said to be
kings, and three in number; they were said to be
representatives of the three families of Shem, Ham, and
Japhet, and therefore one of them is pictured as an
Ethiopian; their names are given as Caspar, Balthasar, and
Melchior, and their three skulls--said to have been
discovered in the twelfth century by Bishop Reinald of
Cologne --are exhibited in a priceless casket in the great
cathedral of that city.“
- Marvin Vincent

5. Word Study – Magi
Greek Meaning
magoi ① a Magus, a wise man and priest,
who was expert in astrology,
interpretation of dreams and
"Now after Jesus was born in various other occult arts
② a magician
Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Arndt, W., Danker, F. W., & Bauer, W. (2000). A Greek-
Herod the king, magi from the
English lexicon of the New Testament and other early
Christian literature.
east arrived…” – Matthew 2:1
Interpretation & Application
The magi first appear in history in the seventh century B.C. as a tribe within the Median nation in
eastern Mesopotamia. Many historians consider them to have been Semites, which if so, made them—
with the Jews and Arabs—descendants of Noah’s son Shem. It may also be that, like Abraham, the
magi came from ancient Ur in Chaldea. The name magi soon came to be associated solely with the
hereditary priesthood within that tribe. The magi became skilled in astronomy and astrology (which, in
that day, were closely associated) and had a sacrificial system that somewhat resembled the one God
gave to Israel through Moses. They were involved in various occult practices, including sorcery, and
were especially noted for their ability to interpret dreams. It is from their name that our words magic
and magician are derived.

6. In Esther…
“But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s
command delivered by the eunuchs. Then the king
became very angry and his wrath burned within him.
Then the king said to the wise men who understood the
times—for it was the custom of the king so to speak
before all who knew law and justice and were close to
him: Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres,
Marsena and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and
Media who had access to the king’s presence and sat in
the first place in the kingdom”
(Esther 1:12–14)

7. In Jeremiah…
"Then all the officials of the king of Babylon came in
and sat down at the Middle Gate: Nergal-sar-ezer,
Samgar-nebu, Sar-sekim the Rab-saris, Nergal-sar-
ezer the Rab-mag, and all the rest of the officials of the
king of Babylon."
(Jeremiah 39:3)
Nergal-sharezer is mentioned who was the chief of the Magi in the court of
Nebuchadnezzar. Kings starting with Nebuchadnezzar had elevated the Magi
to the place of being the official advisors to the king. Even when Babylon fell
to the Medo-Persian Empire, great rulers like Darius the Great and Cyrus
still chose their high-ranking officials of the Medo-Persian government from
among this group called the Magi. They were unmatched in political power.

8. In Daniel…
" Now in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar,
Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; and his spirit was troubled and his
sleep left him. Then the king gave orders to call in the magicians,
the conjurers, the sorcerers and the Chaldeans to tell the king his
dreams. So they came in and stood before the king. . . .The
Chaldeans answered the king and said, “There is not a man on
earth who could declare the matter for the king, inasmuch as no
great king or ruler has ever asked anything like this of any
magician, conjurer or Chaldean."
(Daniel 2:1-2,10)
To “chaldaeise” meant to “bewitch”. Magician” is an English corruption of the
word “Magi”. This section of Daniel reinforces the fact that the Magi were in
a very prominent place before other government officials.

9. In Daniel…
" “I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and flourishing in
my palace. “I saw a dream and it made me fearful; and these
fantasies as I lay on my bed and the visions in my mind kept
alarming me. “So I gave orders to bring into my presence all the
wise men of Babylon, that they might make known to me the
interpretation of the dream. “Then the magicians, the conjurers,
the Chaldeans and the diviners came in and I related the dream to
them, but they could not make its interpretation known to me.
“But finally Daniel came in before me, whose name is
Belteshazzar according to the name of my god, and in whom is a
spirit of the holy gods…"
(Daniel 4:4-8)

10. Daniel’s Influence over the Magi
"“There is a man in your kingdom in whom is a spirit of the holy
gods; and in the days of your father, illumination, insight and
wisdom like the wisdom of the gods were found in him. And King
Nebuchadnezzar, your father, your father the king, appointed him
chief of the magicians, conjurers, Chaldeans and diviners. “This
was because an extraordinary spirit, knowledge and insight,
interpretation of dreams, explanation of enigmas and solving of
difficult problems were found in this Daniel, whom the king named
Belteshazzar. Let Daniel now be summoned and he will declare
the interpretation.”"
(Daniel 5:11-12)
Daniel was put in charge of the Magi, which helps explain their knowledge of
Judaism and prophecies concerning the Messiah. Note that God is
demonstrating His superiority over the arts of the Magi.

11. In Daniel…
" It seemed good to Darius to appoint 120 satraps over the kingdom, that they would be in
charge of the whole kingdom, and over them three commissioners (of whom Daniel was one),
that these satraps might be accountable to them, and that the king might not suffer loss.
Then this Daniel began distinguishing himself among the commissioners and satraps
because he possessed an extraordinary spirit, and the king planned to appoint him over the
entire kingdom. Then the commissioners and satraps began trying to find a ground of
accusation against Daniel in regard to government affairs; but they could find no ground of
accusation or evidence of corruption, inasmuch as he was faithful, and no negligence or
corruption was to be found in him."(Daniel 6:1-4)
The Magi were NOT involved in the plot against Daniel; the government satraps and
commissioners were.

12. “He who learns from a magus is
worthy of death."
- Shabbat, Mishnah-, Tosefta-, Talmud tractate Sabbath

13. In Acts…
"Now there was a man named Simon, who formerly was practicing
magic in the city and astonishing the people of Samaria, claiming to be
someone great; and they all, from smallest to greatest, were giving
attention to him, saying, “This man is what is called the Great Power
of God.” And they were giving him attention because he had for a
long time astonished them with his magic arts."
(Acts 8:9-11)
Some scholars believe that the Gnostic heresy had its origin in
Simon Magus or Simon the Magi.

14. In Acts…
"When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they
found a magician, a Jewish false prophet whose name was Bar-Jesus,
who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence.
This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the
word of God. But Elymas the magician (for so his name is translated)
was opposing them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.
But Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit,
fixed his gaze on him, and said, “You who are full of all deceit and
fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not
cease to make crooked the straight ways of the Lord? “Now, behold,
the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and not see
the sun for a time.” And immediately a mist and a darkness fell upon
him, and he went about seeking those who would lead him by the
hand."
(Acts 13:6-11)

15. History of the Magi

16. Background of the Magi
According to the ancient historian Herodotus, the Magi were a tribe of people
within the larger people called the Medes. They were a hereditary priesthood
tribe, somewhat like the Levites in Israel, who were the single tribe out of the
twelve that ministered in the rituals and the religious ceremonies of Israel.
Similarly, of all of the tribes within the Medes, the Magi had been selected to
function as priests in their pagan rituals.

17. Background of the Magi
Whether they originated all the way back in Ur of the Chaldees
as a part of a nomadic people that were wandering about in that
part of the world, or whether they first appeared in the
Babylonian time, no one knows. But we do know that from the
Babylonian to the Roman empires, they maintained a place of
tremendous prominence and significance in the Orient.

18. Religious Function of the Magi
The principle element of their worship seems to have been fire. Their reverence
of fire has led some historians to conclude that they saw fire as some kind of
incarnation of deity, though they did commonly hold with Israel a monotheistic
belief in God. They offered blood sacrifices, which were eaten by the
worshiper and the Magian priests. Their hereditary priesthood was similar to
Israel's Levitical priesthood.

19. Influence of the Magi
The Magi were the key people in the eastern governments. As a Semitic
people, they traced their lineage from Shem. The Magi rose to a place of
tremendous political power by virtue of their very unique priestly function,
occultic powers of divination, and knowledge of astrology and astronomy.
During the four world empires, they served in a powerfully influential capacity as
advisors to the royalty in the East, consequently earning the reputation of
being wise men. They were the ones that were consulted about the various
things that the ruling kings, nobles, and princes wanted to know.

20. The Magi and Astronomy/Astrology
In the 6th century B.C., Darius the Great the
Medo- Persian selected Zoroastrianism, with
its emphasis upon astrology, as the national
religion. This may account for the Magi ‘s
focus in that field. So, on top of their own
culture's religion was superimposed Judaism
and after that, Zoroastrianism. The Magi were
likely eager to maintain their political power so
they were willing to assimilate other religions
into their own. Within this priestly group, there
were some who became committed to
Zoroastrianism, some who were still committed
to the ancient magian beliefs, and some who
honestly believed in their hearts that the God
of Daniel was the true God. It was likely the
Magi of the latter group who showed up at the
birth of Christ .

21. The King Makers
The Magi were so powerful that historians tell us
that no Persian was ever able to become king
except under two conditions: (1) he had to master
the scientific and religious discipline of the Magi,
and (2) he had to be approved of and crowned by
the Magi. In effect, the Magi controlled who could
be king!
The law of the Medes and the Persians (Est. 1:19;
Dan. 6:8) was the code of scientific and religious
discipline of the Magi, which was required for
anyone to be a monarch in Persia. Besides
controlling the kingly office, historians tell us that
they controlled the judicial office as well. Esther l:l3
implies that the royal bench of judges was chosen
from the Magi. By this kind of leverage, the Magi
of the massive Medo-Persian Empire were able to
control essentially the entire known world of the
Orient.

22. The King Makers
The Magi were not only responsible for training
every monarch in the fields of astronomy,
mathematics, natural history, agriculture,
architecture, and so on, but they were also
responsible for the actual selection of kings and
judges, who served to counterbalance one another.
All nobility was raised by these king-makers, and no
one ruled at all apart from them. Remember that
Daniel was chosen to become chief of the Magi
when he demonstrated his superior ability in
interpreting dreams (cf. 5:11). By the "divine
coincidence" of having a great Hebrew prophet to
rule the Magi six hundred years before Jesus was
born, God was, in effect, setting up the situation so
that one day, when a baby was born in Bethlehem,
some of those Magi would find their way to the
house where the baby was so that He could be
acknowledged as King.

23. First Century Political Environment

24. Rome vs. The Parthian Empire
Politically speaking, Rome was scared of the eastern empire, because of the
distance across the Mediterranean and the desert which served to isolate the
eastern Parthian Empire, as the Medo-Persian Empire became known, from
Rome's direct control. Rome had stretched its tentacles out, as it were, to rule
the world, but they never really felt secure about the Parthian Empire. Having
become violent enemies, the two empires fought in 63, 55, and 40 B.C. in Israel,
the land between the powers of the west and those of the east.

25. The Parthian Empire in Search of a King
At the time of Christ in the eastern empire, there was a ruling body called the
Megistanes, who would be similar in function to the United States Senate. It was totally
composed of Magi who had the right of absolute choice for the selection of a king. They
were the king-makers. They had some real problems with their present king, who had been
deposed. Wanting to fight Rome with a new ruler, the Magi were looking for a new king
for the eastern empire. For this reason, they headed toward Jerusalem looking for their
new king. Also at this time, because both Herod and Caesar Augustus were close to
death, and because the retirement of Tiberius left the Roman army without a commander-
in-chief, the Parthians were aware that this would be the ideal time to bring about an
eastern war against the west.

26. A Look at Matthew 2

27. "Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king,
magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born
King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”
When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of
them where the Messiah was to be born. They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea;
for this is what has been written by the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, land of
Judah, Are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; For out of you shall
come forth a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ” Then Herod secretly
called the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared. And he
sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the Child; and when
you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him.” After
hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east,
went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was.
When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. After coming into
the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and
worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold,
frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned by God in a dream not to return
to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way."
(Matthew 2:1-12)

28. Why are the Magi only referenced in Matthew?
• Mark – written to show Jesus as a servant
• Luke – written to show Jesus as savior to Gentiles
• John – written to show the divinity of Jesus
• Matthew – written to Jews to show Jesus as King
Matthew writes to prove to his Jewish audience that
Jesus is their long awaited Messiah and the legitimate
son of David, and therefore the King of Israel.
In Chapter 2, Matthew is showing the tension between
the two kings of Israel – Herod and Jesus. Part of that
story involves the magi.

29. "Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of
Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,
“Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His
star in the east and have come to worship Him.”
(Matthew 2:1-2)
A couple of old men on camels? Hardly… They were no doubt traveling in full force with all
their oriental pomp, wearing conical hats and riding Persian steeds, rather than camels. And
accompanying them, historians estimate there were a thousand mounted Persian cavalrymen.
Bethlehem means “house of bread” and these men came to see and worship the “Bread of
life” (John 6:48). The fact that they had to ask where the Messiah was to be born displays
evidence to the fact they didn’t have the Hebrew Scriptures or know that prophecy.

30. Word Study – Troubled
Greek Meaning
tarassō ① to cause movement by
shaking or stirring, shake
together, stir up
"When Herod the king heard ② to cause inward turmoil
this, he was troubled, and all Arndt, W., Danker, F. W., & Bauer, W. (2000).
A Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament
and other early Christian literature.
Jerusalem with him.“
(Matthew 2:3)
Interpretation & Application
When the Magi – the Persian king makers – arrived in Jerusalem, Herod (who was the
current ‘king of the Jews’) was “troubled” by their announcement of a rival King. He knew
full well who these men were and the power the wielded. Seeing their entourage along with
hearing their message literally hand him shaking with fear and insecurity. Further, the Magi’s
declaration involved a divine spectacle of a star that announced this new King, which
challenged Herod’s political rule even more. To make matters worse, history tells us his army
was out of the country. Lastly, all Jerusalem was bothered by the arrival of this contingent
of powerful men and their bodyguard.

31. Herod
Herod the Great, reigned from 40-4 BC,
born c. 73 BC. His father Antipater, a Jew
of Idumaean descent, attained a position of
great influence in Judaea after the Roman
conquest and was appointed procurator of
Judaea by Julius Caesar in 47 BC. He in
turn appointed his son Herod military prefect
of Galilee. The Roman governor of Syria
was so impressed by his energy that he made
him military prefect of Coele-Syria. After
the assassination of Caesar and subsequent
civil war Herod enjoyed the goodwill of
Antony. When the Parthians invaded Syria
and Palestine and set the Hasmonaean
Antigonus on the throne of Judaea (40-37
BC) the Roman senate, advised by Antony
and Octavian, gave Herod the title ‘king of
the Jews’.

32. "Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he
inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They said to him,
“In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the
prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, Are by no means least
among the leaders of Judah; For out of you shall come forth a Ruler
Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ”"(Matthew 2:4-6)
"“But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the
clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in
Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of
eternity.”"(Micah 5:2)
This term is used for the One being born – He is from “olam” –
everlasting. A term used to describe God in the Old Testament.

33. "Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them the
exact time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and
said, “Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have
found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him.”
After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they
had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over
the place where the Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced
exceedingly with great joy."
(Matthew 2:7-10)

34. Herod was lying as his later actions would prove: the murder of all the young boys 2
years old and under in and around Bethlehem. Writing some 4 centuries later, the
pagan Roman philosopher Macrobius said of Herod and the event: "When he
[emperor Augustus] heard that among the boys in Syria under two years old whom
Herod, king of the Jews, had ordered to kill, his own son was also killed, he said: it is
better to be Herod's pig, than his son.”
These little boys become the first Christian martyrs – the “protomartyrs”

35. "After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His
mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then,
opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold,
frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned by God in a dream
not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another
way."(Matthew 2:11-12)
What were these Magi actually up to? Scripture doesn’t say and doesn’t record
them coming back. Perhaps they truly came to see the One Daniel had taught their
predecessors about. But it does say they worshipped Him, so their aim must not
have been purely political.

36. gold, frankincense, and myrrh
It was standard custom that, when approaching a superior, a person brought gifts
• Gold: a symbol of wealth and
value. It was also a symbol of
nobility and royalty
• Frankincense: beautifully
smelling incense used in various
offerings. It was incense of deity
• Myrrh: used for burials. Symbol
of Christ’s humanity
These gifts were no doubt used by Joseph to finance the family’s
flight and stay in Egypt.

37. Isn't it ironic and amazing that some of the first people in the world to recognize the
arrival of the King were Gentiles? History reflects that irony of rejection in John
1:11 where it says, "He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.” But if
Israel isn't going to acknowledge Christ as King, then God is going to bring the king
makers from Persia to acknowledge it. This is an example of God bringing the
Gentiles to His Son as Paul says in Romans:
"even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among
Gentiles. As He says also in Hosea, “I will call those who were not My people, ‘My
people,’ And her who was not beloved, ‘beloved.’ ” “And it shall be that in the place
where it was said to them, ‘you are not My people,’ There they shall be called sons
of the living God.”"(Romans 9:24-26)

38. Jesus Christ – Our King
"“But when the Son of Man comes in His
glory, and all the angels with Him, then He
will sit on His glorious throne. “All the
nations will be gathered before Him; and He
will separate them from one another, as the
shepherd separates the sheep from the
goats; and He will put the sheep on His
right, and the goats on the left. “Then the
King will say to those on His right, ‘Come,
you who are blessed of My Father, inherit
the kingdom prepared for you from the
foundation of the world. . . .Then He will
also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from
Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire
which has been prepared for the devil and
his angels . . .These will go away into eternal
punishment, but the righteous into eternal
life.”"(Matthew 25:31-34, 41, 46)

39. We Three Kings
We three kings of Orient are Frankincense to offer have I
Bearing gifts we traverse afar Incense owns a Deity nigh
Field and fountain, moor and mountain Pray'r and praising, all men raising
Following yonder star Worship Him, God most high
O Star of wonder, star of night Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume
Star with royal beauty bright Breathes of life of gathering gloom
Westward leading, still proceeding Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying
Guide us to thy Perfect Light Sealed in the stone-cold tomb
Born a King on Bethlehem's plain Glorious now behold Him arise
Gold I bring to crown Him again King and God and Sacrifice
King forever, ceasing never Alleluia, Alleluia
Over us all to rein Earth to heav'n replies
O Star of wonder, star of night O Star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to Thy perfect light Guide us to Thy perfect light

40. Much of this presentation was gleaned from an outstanding message by Dr.
John MacArthur. For more great material from Dr. MacArthur, please visit
www.gty.org

41. The King Makers
A Look at the Magi